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Rise up against violence! Sign the petition

7th March 2017

Did you know? 50 women die each week in Europe from male domestic violence? Will Europe rise up in 2017? We are calling on the Council of Europe to ratify the Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women once and for all!

Why is this important?

The movement for women's rights across the globe is growing in strength and numbers every day as millions of people march and strike in our shared struggle for equality. We are using this unique momentum to turn the tide on the most appalling violation of women’s human rights: violence done by men to women, because they are women.

With our partners in a European coalition of civil society organisations, we are putting violence against women and girls back on the EU’s political agenda with a bang! We have launched a call to action, powered by the outrage and solidarity of thousands of us in every European country. Our demand? For EU leaders to take a stand for our human rights, and urgently ratify and implement the international convention to fight violence against women.

The Convention is a powerful binding tool to fight violence against women and girls. When applied everywhere in the EU it will strengthen and broaden the protection of victims of violence. It will give legal power, attention, and funding to efforts to stop and punish rape, beatings, exploitation and trafficking, harassment and stalking: the unacceptable everyday reality of millions of women across Europe. “Traditional family values” will no longer be an excuse not to fight domestic violence.

Violence affects European women from all countries and walks of life. One in three women has been a victim of violence since she turned 15. One woman in 20 was raped. 50 women die every week from male domestic violence. Certain women, such as the elderly, migrant women, women with disabilities, lesbian and trans women face a greater risk of violence because of motives fuelled by sexism as well as racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination. Between 60 and 100% of victims of hate crime attacks on Muslims in Europe are women.

All we need for a Europe safer for all women and girls is for our representatives in the Council of Justice Ministers to make a decision to ratify the convention by the EU. Civil society organisations have spent years advocating for urgent action, but the Council made no move, although they won’t come up with a public reason for stalling. The fight against gender-based violence never became their priority. Now we’re making it one. Sign to show your support for all the women and keep fighting for a safer, more just Europe.

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A unique Coalition of more than 25 European-wide networks and NGOs dedicated to social justice and equality, the European Coalition to end violence against women and girls calls on the EU decision-makers to mark International Women’s Day with concrete actions. ...